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Susie Sandpit

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Susie Sandpit

Biography

... ... ... lived in Appalachia, in North Carolina. See Appalachia Project.
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Rev William Franklin "Billy" Graham Jr. KBE was an American Christian Evangelist whose global ministry reached millions. Known for his large rallies, powerful sermons broadcast on television and radio, and presence at nine presidential inaugurations, his work touched the hearts of many and will no doubt be felt for generations to come. [1]

Son of dairy farmer, William Franklin Graham Sr. (1888-1962) and Morrow (Coffey) Graham (1892-1981), Graham was born 7 November 1918 in Charlotte, North Carolina. [2] One of five children, he grew up on the 300 acre dairy farm at 165 Park Road, Sharon. [3] [4] [5] Graham's dream as a child was to become a professional baseball player. However, his life took a dramatic turn at the age of sixteen, [1] when in 1934 he gave his life to Christ at a tent revival being held close to his town by Mordecai Ham. His response to this experience was to start fervently reading the Bible. [6] It was clear his new-found faith was having a profound influence on his life, for in his high school year book he wrote, “My hopes and plans for the future… to serve God and do His will as a minister of the Gospel.” [6]

But this was yet to come. On graduating from high school, Graham spent a brief time as a door to door salesman. [1] He then spent a semester at Bob Jones College, before transferring to the Florida Bible Institute, and then on to Wheaton College, near Chicago, in September 1940. [6] He registered for the draft in Charlotte a month later but was never called up. The description on his draft card was that he was 6' 2" tall, hazel eyes, blonde hair and a light complexion. [7]

Whilst at college, the then President of Wheaton, V Raymond Edman, became his friend and mentor in ministry. He encouraged Graham to serve in a local church during his studies, and Graham took up a call to serve at the United Gospel Tabernacle in Wheaton. [6]

It was also at Wheaton that Graham met his future wife, and companion in ministry, Ruth McCue (Bell) Graham (1920-2007). They married two months after graduation, on 13 August 1943 in Montreat, North Carolina. [8] The Grahams had three daughters and two sons, many of whom are involved in Christian ministry.

Graham's first call after graduating was to The Village Church of Western Springs in a suburb of Chicago. At the same time as serving the local congregation, he was beginning to work as an itinerant preacher throughout the Midwest, speaking to larger and larger audiences. In 1945, he started working for newly-formed Youth for Christ and in 1948 became President of Northwestern Schools, a post he resigned from in 1952 to focus on his preaching which had begun in earnest in 1949 with the backing of media mogul William Randolph Hearst. [6]

By 1950, the Grahams had moved to Buncombe County, North Carolina, and were living at 5 Louisiana Street in Black Mountain, while they built a home for themselves in Montreat. [9] Graham was often on the road, his ministry expanding from the Midwest to Boston, South Carolina, and New England. He also began a new radio broadcast in 1950 entitled, "The Hour of Decision," backed by his new-formed Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. By 1954, he made his first of many trips to England, and in 1957, spoke to thousands in New York CIty. From here, Graham's ministry continued to expand globally. [6]

Graham's beloved wife, Ruth, died 14 June 2007 and was buried in the grounds of the Billy Graham Library in Montreat. [10] Graham, himself, died 21 February 2018 in Montreat, and is buried next to Ruth in the library grounds. [11]

Throughout his life, Graham reached over 215 million people in live audiences, in 185 countries over the course of more than 400 missions. He was a friend to Presidents, social justice campaigners such as Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. and reached radio and television audiences beyond measure. [6] He founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the Billy Graham Library in Montreat, [1] and Christianity Today and Decision magazines. He also authored 33 books. [6] Graham also preached at the National Cathedral in Washington in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. [1] He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

President Dr. Philip Ryken, President of Wheaton College at the time of Graham's death said of him, "despite his global influence, he never lost his humble dependence on God or simple love for Jesus Christ." [6] Graham, himself, was often asked the secret of his success, to which he would reply, "The secret of my work is God. I would be nothing without him." [1]

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Obituary. Centre Daily Times. State College, Pennsylvania. 22 Feb 2018. GRAHAM, Billy. p. 5A. newspapers.com : accessed 15 Feb 2024.
  2. ↑ Birth: "Web: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, U.S., Birth Index, 1865-2012", Original data: Birth Index. The Register of Deeds Office, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. https://meckrod.manatron.com/Birth/SearchEntry.aspx: accessed 3 April 2012; URL: https://meckrod.manatron.com/Birth/SearchEntry.aspx, Ancestry uk Record 70591 #4947774 (accessed 15 February 2024), Billy Frank Graham born on 7 Nov 1918, son of W. Frank Graham & Coffey, in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, USA.
  3. ↑ 1920 Census: "1920 United States Federal Census", Year: 1920; Census Place: Sharon, Mecklenburg, North Carolina; Roll: T625_1310; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 163, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 6061 #32616071 (accessed 15 February 2024), Billie F Graham (1), single son, in household of W F Graham (30) in Sharon, Mecklenburg, North Carolina. Born in North Carolina.
  4. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census", Year: 1930; Census Place: Sharon, Mecklenburg, North Carolina; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0048; FHL microfilm: 2341441, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 6224 #76151328 (accessed 15 February 2024), William F Graham (11), single son, in household of Frank W Graham (41) on Park Road, Sharon, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, USA. Born in North Carolina.
  5. ↑ 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census", Year: 1940; Census Place: Sharon, Mecklenburg, North Carolina; Roll: m-t0627-02944; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 60-84A, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2442 #153802431 (accessed 15 February 2024), W Frank Graham Jr (21), single son, in household of W Frank Graham (50) in Sharon, Mecklenburg, North Carolina. Born in North Carolina.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Biography Wheaton College, Illinois. 21 Feb 2018. GRAHAM, Billy. wheaton.edu : accessed 15 Feb 2024.
  7. ↑ Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947", The National Archives at Atlanta; Atlanta, GA; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For North Carolina, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 137, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2238 #944761 (accessed 13 February 2024)
  8. ↑ Marriage: "North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011", Original data: North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 60548 #5310641 (accessed 13 February 2024), Rev Wm Franklin Graham Jr (25) marriage to Ruth Mc Bell on 13 Aug 1943 in Buncombe, North Carolina, USA.
  9. ↑ 1950 Census: "1950 United States Federal Census", National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Black Mountain, Buncombe, North Carolina; Roll: 2470; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 11-29A, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 62308 #147700919 (accessed 15 February 2024), Billy F Graham (32), married, Preaching, head of household in Black Mountain, Buncombe, North Carolina, USA. Born in North Carolina.
  10. ↑ * Burial: "U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current", Find A Grave: Memorial #19878478, Ancestry uk Record 60525 #102820885 (accessed 16 February 2024), Ruth McCue Graham burial (died on 14 Jun 2007) in Billy Graham Library Grounds, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States of America. Born on 10 Jun 1920.
  11. ↑ * Burial: "U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current", Find A Grave: Memorial #187486261, Ancestry uk Record 60525 #151477993 (accessed 16 February 2024), Rev Billy Graham burial (died on 21 Feb 2018) in Billy Graham Library Grounds, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States of America. Born on 7 Nov 1918.

See also:-

  • Book: Billy Graham, Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham, United States: HarperCollins, 2011, Google Books (accessed 16 February 2024)

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